Masters

Department Perspective on Masters Programs

Our primary goal is to help educators become more critically reflective about their own beliefs and practices, and to become the kind of professionals who can frame and address complex problems in practice in creative and defensible ways.

We seek to prepare teachers for professional roles and activities beyond the individual classroom. Teaching occurs in a larger social context than the classroom and we believe teachers should assume more proactive, critical roles in shaping their work and those policies and practices that affect curriculum, teaching, and learning in schools.

In these programs, you can expect to study cooperatively with peers, to engage actively in learning, and to share your professional journey and examples of your work over time with peers and faculty. Finally, you can expect to participate actively in self-evaluation throughout your program of studies and to evaluate the effects these programs have had on your thinking as a professional.

Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum

The M.A. Program in Teaching and Curriculum (MATC) is designed for beginning and experienced teachers alike, the majority of whom are teaching full time and all of whom are deeply committed to public education and teaching P-12 students. Participation in the MATC program requires a deep, dual commitment to teachers’ learning as well as to students’ learning. Our program tailors coursework to meet our students' individual interests while focusing on the program goals of engaging in critical inquiry, as well as developing accomplished teachers who aim to become teacher leaders.

Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction

The Master’s Degree program in Literacy Instruction is designed for committed and competent teachers
in K-12 and postsecondary classrooms who seek to gain additional knowledge and skill in literacy education
in order to become professional leaders and improve teaching and learning of literacy in their own classrooms,
become literacy coaches, and possibly seek a reading specialist credential. This program provides a balance of theory, research and practice
toward developing leaders at the school and district levels, as well as in government, business and private settings
where literacy is a primary concern.